The War that I Fought.

Chapter 4

"Nick get out of there!" I screamed, my blankets flying off the bed. Sweat dripped down my back and panic chilled my blood. I looked around the dark room, searching for Nick. 

I sighed. Another night, another nightmare. 

It has been two days since Nick shipped out and nightmares have haunted me, prowling in my sleep. In almost every one of these horrid dreams, Nick was taken from me in gruesome ways. And in all of them, I tried to save him, but failed. 

I turned to my ticking clock, 2:57. Ugh another early morning. I sat up in my bed and stared at the clock again, 3:00. Only three minutes?! I laid back down and closed my eyes, humming a lullaby that my mom used to sing to my brother before her cancer ripped her away. Nope. The nightmare flashed through my head, Nick's screams, my sobs, and the sickly sound of gunfire echoed in my mind. I quickly sat up, scrambling out of my blankets. I am never sleeping again. I got up, slowly walked to my door and creaked it opened. I slipped out into to the dark hall way and quietly slipped up the stairs to the attic. I needed to escape. 

I hadn't been in the attic since the day I found out that Nick was being shipped out. Tears welled in my eyes as I looked around the room. Nick must have snuck in here before he left because notes were hung on the wall and pictures of us lined every surface, pictures of memories. Cut out hearts in deep red, my favorite color, filled in the empty space. A stuffed dragon that was clutching a bright heart with S+N embroidered on the front in big, gold letters sat in the corner. I grabbed him and held him to my heart. I decided to name him Red. 

I slowly walked around the room with Red cuddled in my arms, admiring everything when a note caught my eye. It was bordered with gold and written on red paper. I read it, dropped Red, and covered my trembling jaw with my hand. I reread it again to make sure that my eyes were not tricking me. I tore it off the wall, anger boiling my skin. I read it again. Tear rolled down my face as my anger dissolved into sadness. I picked up Red and soaked him in tears as I read the letter out loud.

Dear Skyler,

I knew this day would come but I didn't want it to be so soon. I don't believe that I'll make it through this, so please take care of Mia and Maddox for me. Make sure that they stay strong. Tell them that I love them and am praying for their safety. They need you more than ever right now so please fill in the space that I left. 

As for you, my love, stay strong like I know you are, don't let this break you. Keep fighting for us all, even when I am gone. Carry on. I put the engagement ring that I got for you on your shelf, I hope it's the one you wanted. I was going to give it to you the day I met your grandparents, but when I heard about the war, I knew that I couldn't. I didn't want it to hurt you even more than it already would. I knew that if I left you after we were married, it would break you past the breaking point and I couldn't bear that. You have been through so much already, you didn't need me adding weight. When you wear it, please remember me and all the good times that we spent together. I hope that you will forgive me for leaving you. No matter what happens, you will be the only one that I truly love. I pray that you feel the same. Stay safe and trust that you will make it through this, with or without me.

Forever your love, even in death,

Nick Lexton.

Tears shook my body and I felt the same lost and empty feeling that over took me when I lost my mom. I stood up remembering what Nick had said about the shelf. I rushed over to it and instantly found the beautiful ring next a picture of Nick and I on our last date. It was perfect. It was a beautiful silver with a small diamond set in the middle. On the band was Nick's name engraved next to mine. It was simple, but it meant a lot. I wished that Nick could see me wearing it.  I shipped tears from my eyes and stood up straighter. I refused to believe what the letter had said. Nick would make it out of this and we would be together again. I would never stop believing that we will end up with a future together.